Tappet structure



Feb. 15, 1966 G. D. LINE TAPPET STRUCTURE Filed May 29, 1962 INVENTOR. GERALD D. LINE BY k United States Patent ()filice 3,234,815 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 3,234,815 TAPPET STRUCTURE Gerald D. Line, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor t Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 29, 1962, Ser. No. 198,593 15 Claims. (Cl. 74-569) This invention relates to tappets and more particularly to substantially solid, integral, unitary tappet structure which has been cast from a suitable material wherein the tappet structure is of lightweight construction but possesses suflicient strength to accomplish the desired results.

It has long been desired to have unitary, substantially solid, integrally formed tappet structure which may be cast from any suitable material wherein the tappet structure is of lightweight construction but of sufficient strength to perform the desired and necessary functions and which enables and satisfies different requirements for circulating lubricating oil to the tappet structure as well as any push rod and cam arrangement which may be associated therewith.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide substantially solid, unitary, integrally formed tappet structure which is of lightweight construction and which possesses suflicient strength to perform the desired and necessary functions.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved tappet structure which is of lightweight construction possessing sufficient strength to perform the desired and necessary functions wherein the improved tappet structure has an elongate body portion provided with a plurality of enlarged parts each of which have substantially equal cross-sectional areas wherein the enlarged parts are spaced apart and define therebetween portions which are reduced in cross-sectional area relative to the cross-sectional areas of the enlarged parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved tappet structure of lightweight construction which possesses sufiicient strength to perform the desired and necessary functions wherein'the improved tappet structure has an elongated body portion provided with a plurality of spaced apart enlarged parts each of which have substantially common or equal diameters wherein at least one portion of the body member which is disposed between and defined by adjacent ones of the enlarged parts has a diameter which is less than the common or given diameters of the enlarged parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved tappet structure of lightweight construction which possesses sufiicient strength to perform the desired and necessary functions wherein the improved tappet structure is provided with an elongate body portion having a plurality of enlarged parts which are disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship relative to each other and define therebetween reduced portions at least one of which is provided with generally longitudinally extending laterally spaced reinforcing web-like elements that project generally outwardly from the body portion and terminate in surface areas which extend substantially continuously between the adjacent ones of the enlarged parts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide tappet structure which is of lightweight construction but which possesses sufiicient strength to perform the necessary required functions in order to decrease the required bias of a valve spring arrangement employed in the environment in which the tappet structure is being used which further enables the operation of such environment to possess greater efliciency at higher speeds An additional object of this invention is to provide substantially solid, unitary, integrally formed tappet structure which may be cast from any suitable material.

Another additional object of this invention is to provide substantially solid, unitary tappet structure having enlarged end parts for engaging cam and push rod arrangements with the enlarged end parts integrally formed with an intermediate part by reduced portions one of which is recessed, grooved or channeled in a manner to define a passageway which enables the circulation of lubricating oil to be effective to the tappet structure and the cam and push rod arrangements even though the circulation of such lubricating oil may have different requirements depending upon the environment in which the tappet structure is employed.

Still yet another additional object of this invention is to provide tappet structure with sealing means for effectively preventing the flow of a lubricating fluid from the confines of the tappet structure which will normally decrease the pressure of the lubricating fluid and thus enable a substantially constant lubricating fluid pressure to be maintained so that all such tappet structures of a given series or line may be lubricated as required.

Accordingly, in order to acquire and accomplish the desired advantages and objects as stated above, tappet structure according to the instant inventive concept is provided with an elongate body member having, adjacent one end portion thereof, an enlarged part for engaging a push rod arrangement and, adjacent the other end portion, an enlarged part for engaging a cam arrangement. The enlarged end parts of the body member of the tappet structure project generally radially outwardly therefrom and terminate in peripheral surfaces each of which is of substantially constant and equal diameters, generally cylindrical in configuration and which define substantially smooth circumferentially extending surface areas. Intermediate the enlarged end parts of the elongate body member of the tappet structure there is provided a generally radially outwardly or laterally projecting enlarged flange-like part which also is of substantially cylindrical configuration having a constant given diameter which is substantially equal to the diameters of the enlarged end parts and which also defines a substantially circumferentially extending surface area with the enlarged flange-like part being longitudinally spaced from each of the enlarged end parts and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween each of which have a cross-sectional area that is substantially less than a corresponding or like cross-sectional area of the enlarged ends and flange-like parts of the tappet structure. At least one of the reduced portions of the body member of the tappet structure may be recessed, channeled or grooved in order to provide a circumferentially extending substantially unobstructed passageway for a lubricating fluid with the recess, channel or groove of the one reduced portion having a diameter which is substantially less than the diameters of the enlarged parts of the tappet structure. Exending generally longitudinally between the enlarged intermediate or flange-like part and at least one of the enlarged end parts of the body member and disposed within the confines of the other reduced portion which is defined therebetween there is provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced web-like reinforcing elements which give the other reduced portion of the body member of the tappet structure a cruciform configuration in cross-section.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawing, which together show, illustrate, describe and disclose certain preferred embodiments or modifications of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings,

herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view of an environment having tappet structure provided with the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal view partly in section of another embodiment or modification of the tappet structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an end portion of the tappet structure illustrated in FIG- URE 2 of the drawing taken along the line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, similar to FIGURE 2 of the drawing but illustrating a further embodiment or modification of the tappet structure; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an end portion of the tappet structure illustrated in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing taken along the line 55 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawing wherein there is illustrated tappet structure which is operably disposed in an environment 12, such as an internal combustion engine or the like, which in accordance with conventional practice is provided with a lubricating system 14 for circulating a lubricating fluid to the tappet structure I0, a push rod arrangement 16 and a cam arrangement, not illustrated The tappet structure 10 comprises an elongate body member 18 and, in each of the embodiments or modifications of the invention as illustrated in more detail in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the body member 18 of the tappet structure 10 is provided adjacent one end part 20 thereof with means 22 in the form of a dwell for engagement with a cam arrangement, not illustrated, with the other end part 24 of the body member 13 being provided with means 26, which may be in the form of a longitudinally inwardly projecting recess, into which there may extend the push rod 16 during the operation of the tappet structure It) in performing the desired functions in accordance with the requirements of and in association with the selected type of environment 12.

The end arts 20 and 2.4, as illustrated, are enlarged and longitudinally spaced from each other relative to a longitudinal axis AA of the elongate body member 18 with each of the end parts 20 and 24 projecting generally radially or laterally outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis AA and terminating in substantially cylindrical generally smooth circumferentially extending substantially continuous surface areas which slidably engage a bore 28 of the environment 12 in a manner and for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained, described and disclosed in more detail. The substantially continuously smooth peripheral surface areas of the cylindrical-like enlarged end parts 20 and 24 of the body member 18 are each defined by a given common diameter D and in each instance the diameters D for the respective enlarged end parts 20 and 24 are substantially equal relative to each other with the lateral cross-sectional areas of the end parts 20 and 24 also being substantially equal to each other.

Located intermediate the enlarged end parts 20 and 24 and also extending generally radially or laterally outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis AA of the body member 18 of the tappet structure It) is an intermediate flange-like enlarged part 30 which is longitudinally spaced from each of the enlarged end parts 20 and 24 and located intermediate thereof to define therewith longitudinally spaced apart reduced portions 32 and 34 on the body member 18.

The intermediate flange-like enlarged part 30 of the body member 18 of the tappet structure 1! has a diameter that is substantially equal to the common or given diameters D of the enlarged end parts 2t) and 24 with the lateral cross-sectional area of the intermediate flangelike enlarged part 30 also being substantially equal to the like or corresponding cross-sectional areas of the enlarged end parts 20 and 24.

In the embodiment or modification of the tappet structure 10, as illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawing, at least one of the reduced portions 32 of the body member 18 is provided with an annular recess, groove or channel that extends substantially continuously circumferentially about the body member 18 to define a substantially unobstructed open passageway 36 with the bore 28 in the environment 12 through which the lubricating fluid of the system 14 may pass during the circulation thereof in lubricating the tappet structure It), the push rod arrangement 16, cam arrangement, not illustrated, as well as any other portions of the environment 12 as required or desired. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGURE 1, lubrication of the push rod arrangement 16 will occur through a cross-over passageway of the system I4 through the bore 28 with the cross-over passageway being in communication with a centrally located passageway through the means 26 which feeds to the push rod arrangement 16. The annular recess, groove or channel has a diameter d that is substantially less than the given diameter D that is common to the enlarged ends 20 and 24 and enlarged intermediate flange-like parts 30 of the body member 18 of the tappet structure 10.

The other reduced portion 34 of the body member 18 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending radially spaced apart web-like reinforcing elements 38 each of which terminates in longitudinally extending surface areas 40. The web-like reinforcing elements 38 are disposed in a manner which creates a cruciform configuration to the other reduced portion 34 when viewed in longitudinal cross-section as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

The reduced portions 32 and 34 each has a lateral cross-sectional area which is less than the like, corresponding or similar cross-sectional areas of the enlarged end 20 and 24 and the enlarged intermediate flange-like 30 parts which are substantially equal. At least one of the reduced portions 3-2 or 34 of the body member 18 has a diameter d which is substantially less than the given diameter D that is common to the enlarged end 20 and 24 and the enlarged intermediate 30 parts which have substantially equal diameters with the other reduced portion 32 or 34 of the body member 18 having the longitudinally extending surfaces 40 of the web-like reinforcing elements 38 disposed with diameters D that are substantially equal to the given diameter d that is common to the enlarged end 20 and 24 and the enlarged intermediate flange-like 30 parts of the *body member 18 of the tappet structure 10.

FIGURE 4 of the drawing illustrates another modification or embodiment of tappet structure which differs from the tappet structure 10 illustrated in FIG- URES 13 of the drawing in that one reduced portion 132 is provided with generally longitudinally extending web-like reinforcing elements 142 which project generally radially or laterally outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis AA of the body member 118 in circumferentially spaced relationship relative to each other and terminate in longitudinally extending surface areas 144 with the web-like reinforcing elements 142 being provided with a diameter d which is substantially less than the given or common diameter D of adjacent enlarged end 120 and enlarged intermediate parts of body portion 118 in a manner which will define a passageway that functions as the passageway 36, previously described and disclosed.

embodiment or modification or the tappet structure 10,

as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawing.

It would also be obvious from the showing in FIG- URE 4 that the web-like reinforcing elements 142 may be of the same size as the reinforcing elements 138 when no surrounding lubricant by-pass is required.

Still otherembodiments or modifications of the invention are believed to be within the descriptive portion of this disclosure wherein tappet structure may be provided with various combinations of the reduced portions and enlarged parts of the body member which have been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed herein.

In each of the embodiments or modifications of the tappet structure and 110, as shown, illustrated, described and disclosed herein, the web-like reinforcing elements 38, 138 and 142 each extend from the respective enlarged end parts 20, 120 or 24, 124 to the enlarged intermediate flange like part 30, 130 so that the longitudinally extending surfaces 40, 140 or 144 extend substantially continuously therebetween.

Further, the enlarged parts 20, 120, 24, 124, 30, 130 and the web-like reinforcing elements 38, 138 or 142 are all integrally formed one with the other to define the tappet structure 10, 110 respectively, which is a solid, integral, unitary structure and the tappet structure 10, 110, as the case may be, may be formed by casting from any suitable material in accordance with conventional processes or practices.

From the above disclosure and description, it is believed that the tappet structure 10, 110 will be relatively lightweight in construction but will possess .sufiicient strength to enable the tappet structure 10, 110 to perform the desired functions as required by the selected environment 12. Further, the lightweight construction of the tappet structure 10, 110 will enable a relatively smaller bias to be required from a valve spring arrangement and hence result in a more efiicient operation at higher speeds of the environment 12.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the surface areas defined by the parts 20, 120 in cooperation with the surfaces defined by the parts 30, 130 respectively, when in engagement with the bore 28 in the environment 12 will effectively seal the lubricating system 14 so that on passage of a lubricating fluid through the system 14 and the passageway 36, leakage will be prevented from the passageway 36 so that the pressure of a lubricating fluid passing through the system 14 will be maintained substantially constant and will not require a pressure buildup in the system 14 in order to lubricate other tappet structures which may be operated in series or line in the environment 12.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in terms of certain preferred embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise certain embodiments or modifications herein shown, described, illustrated and disclosed, such other embodiments or modifications being intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of the claims herein appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. Elongate tappet structure having at least three longitudinally spaced apart generally laterally outwardly projecting substantially cylindrical parts of each of which terminate in substantially smooth circumferentially continuously extending surfaces,

said parts of the tappet structure each having a common given diameter with the diameters of each part being substantially equal,

one of said parts of the tappet structure being disposed intermediate the other parts thereof and defining therewith portions therebetween each of which is reduced in longitudinal cross-sectional area relative to the longitudinal cross-sectional area of the parts of the tappet structure,

at least one of the reduced portions of the tappet structure having a diameter substantially less than the common given diameters of the parts of the tappet structure, and

a plurality of longitudinally extending generally laterally outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced apart web-like elements disposed within the confines of the other reduced portion of the tappet structure with the web-like elements each extending between the respective adjacent parts of the tappet structure.

2. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one reduced portion of the tappet structure is defined by an annular circumferentially extending substantially unobstructed recess.

3. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the web-like elements disposed within the confines of the other reduced portion of the tappet structure terminate in generally longitudinally extending surface areas, and

said other reduced portion of the tappet structure is of cruciform configuration in cross-section.

4. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said generally longitudinally extending surface areas of the web-like elements of the other reduced portions are disposed along a diameter which is substantially equal to the common given diameter of the parts of the tappet structure.

5. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the parts of said tappet structures are disposed with the one of the parts being intermediate the end portions of the tappet structure and the other parts thereof being disposed adjacent the opposed end portions of the tappet structure.

6. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein one of the other parts of the tappet structure which is disposed adjacent the end portions thereof is provided with a generally longitudinally inwardly projecting recess for receiving a push rod of an environment in which said tappet structure may be functioning.

7. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein one of the other parts of the tappet structure which is disposed adjacent the end portions thereof is provided with a dwell for engaging a cam arrangement of an environment in which the tappet structure may be functioning.

8. Elongate tappet structure having a plurality of generally laterally outwardly projecting substantially cylindrical parts each. of which have substantially equal diameters,

said parts being longitudinally spaced apart to define therebetween portions each of which is reduced in cross-sectional area relative to the cross-sectional areas of the parts, and

at least one of said portions having a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the parts of the tappet structure.

9. Tappet structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending generally laterally outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced apart web-like elements are disposed within the confines of the one portion of the tappet structure with the web-like elements each extending between the respective adjacent parts of the tappet structure.

10. Elongate tappet structure having a plurality of generally laterally outwardly projecting substantially cylindrical parts,

said parts being longitudinally spaced along the tappet structure to define therebetween portions thereon each of which have a cross-sectional area substantially less than the cross-sectional areas of the parts of the tappet structure,

a plurality of longitudinally extending generally laterally outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced apart web-like elements disposed within the confines of at least one of the portions of the tappet structure with the web-like members each extending between the respective adjacent parts of the tappet structure, and

said one portion of the tappet structure is of cruciform configuration in cross-section.

11. Elongate tappet structure having one end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a push rod and the other end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a cam arrangement,

an intermediate part of said tappet structure being enlarged and disposed in spaced relationship to the enlarged end parts thereof and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween,

said parts of the tappet structure having substantially equal diameters and cross-sectional areas with the reduced portions having cross-sectional areas substantially smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the parts,

one of said reduced portions having an annular peripherally extending recess for defining a passageway having a diameter substantially less than the diameters of the parts, and

the other of said reduced portions having a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced apart generally outwardly projecting web-like elements having a diameter substantially equal to the diameters of the parts.

12. Elongate tappet structure having one end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a push rod and the other end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a cam arrangement,

an intermediate part of said tappet structure being enlarged and disposed in spaced relationship to the enlarged end parts thereof and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween,

said parts of the tappet structure having substantially equal diameters and cross-sectional areas with the reduced portions having cross-sectional areas substantially smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the parts,

one of said reduced portions having an annular peripherally extending recess for defining a passageway having a diameter substantially less than the diameters of the parts.

13. Elongate tappet structure having one end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a push rod and the other end portion thereof enlarged for engaging a cam arrangement,

an intermediate part of said tappet structure being enlarged and disposed in spaced relationship to the enlarged end parts thereof and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween,

said parts of the tappet structure having substantially equal diameters and cross-sectional areas with the reduced portions having cross-sectional areas substantially smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the parts,

one of said reduced portions having a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced apart generally outwardly projecting web-like elements terminating in surface areas having diameters substantially equal to the diameters of the parts.

14. Tappet structure having enlarged end parts and an intermediate part disposed in spaced relationship relative to the enlarged end parts and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween,

said enlarged end and said intermediate parts having substantially equal diameters,

one of said reduced portions having an annular substantially peripherally continuously extending recess, and

the other of said reduced portions having a plurality of spaced apart generally outwardly projecting Web-like elements extending substantially continuously between the respective parts of the tappet structure.

15. Tap-pet structure having enlarged end parts and an intermediate part disposed in spaced relationship relative to the enlarged end parts and defining therewith reduced portions therebetween,

said enlarged end and said intermediate parts having substantially equal diameters,

one of said reduced portions having a plurality of spaced apart generally outwardly projecting weblike elements each of which extend substantially continuously between the respective parts of the tappet structure.

8/1947 Corlett 123-90 5/1963 Kueny 74569 X BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. ELONGATE TAPPET STRUCTURE HAVING AT LEAST THREE LONGITUDINAL SPACED APART GENERALLY LATERALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL PARTS OF EACH OF WHICH TERMINATE IN SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY EXTENDING SURFACES, SAID PARTS OF THE TAPPET STRUCTURE EACH HAVING A COMMON GIVEN DIAMETER WITH THE DIAMETERS OF EACH PART BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL, ONE OF SAID PARTS OF THE TAPPET STRUCTURE BEING DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THE OTHER PARTS THEREOF AND DEFINING THEREWITH PORTIONS THEREBETWEEN EACH OF WHICH IS REDUCED IN LONGITUDINAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE PARTS OF THE TAPPET STRUCTURE, AT LEAST ONE OF THE REDUCED PORTIONS OF THE TAPPET STRUCTURE HAVING A DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE 